Discover the Most Romantic Places in Italy What could be more romantic than a honeymoon in Italy to some of Italy’s most romantic cities – Bellissimo! From the most famous cities to lesser-known romantic destinations, continue reading and swoon over all the incredibly romantic places you can visit in Italy and add them to your […]
Best Day Trips From Rome You Can’t Miss
Best Day Trips from Rome Rome is an amazing city and there are so many top sights to see in Rome that it can occupy your for weeks. But sometimes the hustle of the city can get to you. The honking, the crazy driving, the sheer masses of people. To break up your stay in […]
7 Days in Italy: 1 Week Itinerary from Venice to Rome
7 Days in Italy Itinerary Italy is gliding down the Grand Canal in Venice, under the Rialto Bridge and onward to the enigmatic St. Mark’s Square. Italy is staring in awe at Michelangelo’s masterpiece David or the heavenly Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Italy is imagining the gladiators and wild beasts fighting to the death […]
10 Ways to Beat Jet Lag in Rome
How many times have you arrived in Europe feeling like an extra from The Walking Dead—eyes puffy and mumbling something incoherent (English in this case)? Having begun many trips to Europe in Rome, I’ve found that there are lots of things to see in Rome to help you beat jet lag. If you like to […]
EuropeUpClose Picks for Best Cities in Europe for Canoodling
Looking for romantic Europe? From the cozy canals of Venice, to sophisticated Paris, to mysterious Valencia, Spain, Europe offers romance around every corner. You can find romance anywhere, but these cities are our favorites for finding that special spot for canoodling. Venice, Italy The city of quiet canals and music is our choice for the best city […]
Hiring a Tour Guide: Is it Worth it?
My husband, Bill, and I had never hired a private tour guide before our recent trip to Italy. In the past, we read our guidebooks, consulted the internet, and reviewed EuropeUpClose.com to see what our writers had to say. We then did our own thing. We have also been part of large group tours, but this experience showed us the value […]
Italy Can Mend a Broken Heart
For most of the summer, I was afraid to go to Italy. I was scared to hear the accent, to taste spaghetti Bolognese, to smell espresso. I worried that hearing my favourite Italian word, “Alora”, might send me straight over the edge. You see, I fell in love with an Italian last year. If this has […]
Rome’s Most Important Sights
Here’s an overview of the most important sights in Rome. Let’s pretend that you’re just leaving the hotel for the first time since arriving in Rome. What do you want to see most? Luckily, many of the most important historic sites are within walking distance of one another. If you want to find out if […]
Planning Your Italy Vacation: From Rome to Lecce
In the last edition of Planning your Italy Vacation, I wrote about traveling north from Rome, with Venice as the final destination. In this post we’ll explore the alternative: traveling from Rome southward. This alternative will be attractive to travelers who have already seen the major sights in the north of Italy, and to […]
Guide to Rome’s Outdoor Markets
Some of the best deals in Rome can be found in the beautiful outdoor markets. Located in timeless settings on ancient streets and in stunning piazzas, the markets offer every kind of merchandise imaginable, from immaculate floral arangments and high-quality produce to inexpensive clothes, shoes, and antiques. I first visited the markets as a […]